始発電車(しはつでんしゃ)

Forms

Usually shortened to 始発(しはつ), which also means the first departure of a bus or the station a line starts from (始発駅(しはつえき)).

Usage

First trains run from about 4:30 to 5:30 a.m., depending on the line. 始発(しはつ)で帰(かえ)る (to go home on the first train) implies having stayed out all night after missing the last train.

Common collocations

• 始発電車(しはつでんしゃ)に乗(の)る - to catch the first train
• 始発(しはつ)を待(ま)つ - to wait for the first train

Related words

• 終電(しゅうでん) - the last train
• 通勤電車(つうきんでんしゃ) - commuter train